Experts Say Raised Beds Make Gardening So Much Easier—Here’s Why

WDC NEWS 6 STAFF May 19, 2025

10 3 minutes read

Experts Say Raised Beds Make Gardening So Much Easier—Here’s Why

We’ve all seen those picture-perfect gardens in raised beds—with lush greenery and veggies filling every inch of these neatly cordoned off planting areas. But while the aesthetics of the raised garden bed may be the most enticing thing for you, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to include them in your garden design.

Learn the reasons why raised garden beds may be the perfect solution to some of the most vexing garden problems—and how to work this aesthetic into your landscaping.

Benefits of Raised Garden Beds

They make gardening easier on you

For people with mobility issues—or who just don’t enjoy crouching for long hours to get the weeding done—raised garden beds can be built to any height, making it easier to tend to your plants from a sitting or standing position. (And without a back ache or knee pain!)

They create a neater aesthetic

If you want your vegetable garden or cut flower garden to wow, creating a raised border helps give it a sleek, neat aesthetic. “Aesthetically, raised beds are an easy way to lend rustic charm to your yard,” says Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen.

They’re a great option if you have poor soil

If your plants have very particular soil requirements, your land has poorly draining or otherwise less than perfect soil, or if you’re concerned that your soil may have potential contamination from a leaky oil tank or other issues, a raised garden bed ensures that you can create the just-right conditions for your plantings. “Raised beds offer a highly controlled planting environment that allows you to control soil, moisture, and light conditions and discourages pests and weeds,” Lenhart says. “This makes them an easy place to grow all manner of plants.”

They let you turn almost any spot into a garden

We aren’t all blessed with acres of fertile soil to build our garden dreams on. But if you’re lacking garden space, raised beds can be built onto patios, driveways, or basically any other spot to make your garden wishes come true. “As long as there is full sun and a place to drain to, pretty much anywhere in your yard will accommodate raised beds,” Lenhart says. “They’re great for tucking into awkward spaces that are not suitable for other uses.”

They help minimize weeds

By creating a raised garden bed, you can put a barrier between the ground and your plantings with hardware cloth, landscaping fabric, or even cardboard boxes to help drown out weeds and keep pests from digging into your raised bed from beneath, making it simpler to keep pests and weeds from getting at your garden.

Tips for Making Raised Garden Beds Work for You

Ready to get started with raised beds? Here’s everything you need to know to get started:

Start small

Rather than going all-in on a massive potager garden design, Lenhart recommends starting with just a few planters. “It’s easy to get carried away when you are starting out your raised beds. My advice is to start small, both with how many beds you install and how many plants you grow. Walk before you run.”

Decide what type and material to use

There’s a lot of variation in what can be done with raised garden beds. They can range from barely-off-the-ground heights to a few feet tall, and can be made of all kinds of materials, from weather-resistant woods like cedar or teak to metal, plastic, or terracotta. Think about your garden design and choose based on that—a sleek metal garden bed will give you a modern vibe, while a warm terracotta container will lend an organic feel.

Choose the right plants

Lenhart says most plants can thrive in a raised bed setting, but with a few caveats.

Large, deep-rotted trees and shrubs need more access to undisturbed soil, and they may not thrive in a raised bed.
Avoid aggressive species, like mint, which can spread quickly and choke out other plants in the same bed.
Skip vining plants like pumpkins that spread out beyond the raised bed. “Some people may enjoy this spillover look, but the risk of predation by pests goes up when plants make contact with the ground beyond the bounds of the raised bed.”

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